Open PSP files

  • Full name
    Corel PaintShop Photo Pro Image Format
  • Developer
    Corel
  • Popularity
Have you encountered a problem with a PSP file? Don’t you know which program opens a file with this extension? You will find all the information you need about working with a PSP file here. In the further part of this page we have added a list of programs that should open your PSP file. It is enough you choose a proper application for your operating system, download and install it.

What is PSP file?

PSP files are image files in the native format of the image editing software PaintShop Pro. Like Photoshop's psd format, PSP is the standard format for PaintShop Pro and the only one that can store all of the PaintShop Pro information and functionality.

More info

A PSP file can contain both normal image information and vector graphics. In addition, of course, the levels, transparency values, filter settings and other image effects are also stored. The PSP format supports RLE and LZ77 compression and can also embed an ICC color profile.

Due to the further development of the PaintShop Photo Pro program, the format has also changed, which unfortunately is not downwardly compatible. However, you can specify when saving which PaintShop Photo Pro version the PSP file should be compatible with. Under certain circumstances not all information of the image will be saved.

PSP is a proprietary file format and apart from PaintShop Pro can almost exclusively be read by several other Corel products. However, image display programs exist that can display and convert PSP.

The newer versions of PaintShop Photo Pro use pspimage as their file extension. Pspimage was introduced with version 8, which is still simply PaintShop Pro here.

Adobe Photoshop can read PSP files using the PaintShop Pro format plug-in, but only version 5-9.

Programs which can open a PSP file

How to open file with PSP extension?

In order to open a file with PSP extension one of the following programs must be installed on user’s system. If a problem with opening PSP file occurred, it is highly possible that none of the listed programs is present on user’s system. Even if one or more said programs are installed, there may be issues related with given programs. In order to solve a problem with PSP files, follow the instructions below.
1
Install PaintShop Pro or other program from the list

Most often resolving problems with opening PSP files is very simple. Just install an appropriate program that supports such files. All of the listed programs support PSP files, but may vary in offered function and purpose. Some programs may be capable only of viewing contents of PSP files or offer file conversion options, but may not be capable of editing such files.

Set PaintShop Pro as the default program for opening PSP files

It is possible that although a compatible program has been installed on user’s system, it is not used by the system to open it. This may happen because no default application was associated with this type of files. To associate PSP files with given application, select "Open with" from drop-down menu (accessed by right-clicking on the file). Then select from the list the program or application you want to be used to open this type of file. If the PaintShop Pro applications is not on the list, select "Browse" option in order to manually locate the directory where PaintShop Pro has been installed.

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Check the section that lists most common problems with PSP files

Sometimes problems with opening PSP files may not lie with the application itself, but can arise due to other causes, such as:

  • File data is corrupted
  • PSP files has been not been completely download from the internet (only a part of the data has been downloaded)
  • Currently used user account hasn’t been granted necessary privileges to open PSP files (should that be the case, please contact your system administrator or IT specialist)
  • PSP file was being copied from a corrupted storage device and is incomplete or data is corrupted. (Copying files from unknown or untrusted sources should be conducted with great care as such files may contain malicious software, which can damage your system)

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